Last modified: 2003-09-13 by joe mcmillan
Keywords: mato grosso | star (yellow) | lozenge (white) | disk (green) |
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7:10
by Joseph McMillan
Adopted 31 January 1890, reinstated 11 June 1947
The flag was created on 31 January 1890. The blue represents the immense
sky of Mato Grosso; the white peace; and the green the rich vegetation.
The star symbolizes the state, and is yellow to represent the color of the gold
that attracted to the first colonists.
Jaume Ollé, 28 June 1996
The following is the text of the 1890 decree on the Mato Grosso flag:
Decree No 2 of 31 January 1890The decree was revoked by state law 1046 of 8 October 1929 and reinstated by article 140 of the 11 July 1947 state constitution.
Art. 1 - The special flag of the Federal State of Mato Grosso shall be blue with a white lozenge, on the center of which shall be a green globe and a yellow star with its rays touching the circumference of the sphere.
This is one of the oldest flags in Brazil, having been created by the
first governor of the state, Antônio Maria Coelho, only 73 days after the adoption
of the national flag of the republic. The colors and general design are the same
as the national flag, but the arrangement of the colors is reversed (the field blue
and white and the globe and star green and yellow. According to the Internatinonal
Association of Lions Clubs and the state government, the blue symbolizes the sky and
the spiritual search for perfection. The white lozenge is said to be a Positivist
symbol of reverence for the female principle. White signifies purity, the
band of the zodiac, peace, political concord, virtue and optimism. The green sphere or
globe expresses the sovereignty and the territorial dimension of the state. Green
also characterizes hope and youth, and (nowadays) the need to preserve nature in harmony with
socio-economic growth. The star is said to be another positivist symbol signifying
humanity's turning to the firmament in search of symbols and answers to the many quests that
arise across the centuries. The yellow recalls gold as one of the riches of Mato Grosso, as
well as the bandeirante explorers. It also symbolizes light, culture, wealth, power and
glory, and authority based on wisdom.
Source:
www.brasilrepublica.hpg.ig.com.br
Joseph McMillan, 3 July 2002
Association of the lozenge and female principle can be tracked back to
medieval alchemy. The positivists of the 19th century most probably
reused that ancient symbol.
Ivan Sache, 4 July 2002